Let's talk about irons . . . .

I had an $8 Rowenta that I bought from the thrift store that lasted more than a few years. It was wonderful but it died a year or so ago. I replaced it with a new Rowenta from Costco. (about $70) The darned thing leaked a bit (I use water too) but was pretty usable until last month. It had the usual turn off after sitting idle. I had forgotten it on in the afternoon and when I was closing down the house for the evening I knew it hadn't been moved in hours and went to pick it up. The shut off had failed and when I grabbed it I got a couple of big blisters. I returned it to Costco the next day and bought their Shark model. It isn't a 'wow' iron but is ok so far. If it fails in an unreasonable time Costco will refund my money. Can't complain about that. It was a pretty reasonable price. Someone at guild last month said she gave up on pricey irons and was enjoying her working $9 walmart one. ymmv Taria

Remember when a bunch of us bought the "technicolor" irons? Well, mine just died.

Now I need some suggestions for a new iron. My old, old Rowenta spits and sputters (yes, I know Sandy/Ragmop you don't put water in your irons, but I do!), so now I need to start shopping for a new iron.

I haven't kept up on what's good or bad since my technicolor has, up until today, worked fine.

Suggestions, recommendations, anyone?

Donna in Idaho

I use water in my irons too :-) My current model is a T-fal ultraglide. It has a nice slick sole plate and a nice weight to it. I've had it about 4 years and it's still going strong.

It does have auto-shutoff which I am not a huge fan of, but I've gotten more or less used to it.

Got mine at Bed Bath & Beyond. I think it's a pretty widely available brand though.

marcella

My DH bought me the most expensive iron, a Shark, at WalMart as a Xmas gift...not for ironing, of course, but for quilting. It had the automatic shut-off which I hate! It always seemed to shut off just when I needed it, but other times when I wasn't using it, I'd hear it cycling off and on! About the same time, I bought the cheapest iron that they had to take to a Quilting Retreat. It was small and light. As it turns out, the better iron spit steaming hot water everywhere...it was a major hazzard. I put it away and started to use the inexpensive one...I love it. It's so light, steams well, and does a great job. I'm happy with it. It's a Procter-Silex Traditions.

I've got a Black and Decker Classic. The auto shutoff does drive me bonkers. You will frequently hear me swearing that I am going to get a brazier and a flat iron while I am sewing. Other than that it has worked fine for years. I picked it up after my ancient GE died back when they thought it a good idea to sell irons with no nose. The B&D had a nose, in fact aside from a cheapo Sunbeam I also bought it was the only one I found at the time that did. The cheapo Sunbeam also still works. It just had it's temperature selector broken off when a cat knocked it off the ironing board. I turned it all the way up with a pair of pliers and only use it for cottons and linen now.

Alas! I have never put water in either of them, so I cannot say how well they work or how long they last when you do.

NightMist

Howdy!

Love you, Donna! ;-D

You're right, no water in my irons, & no wrinkles w/ a spray bottle of water at hand.

For hard work, lots of heat, I like the Sunbeam series C2. Got it in white, then picked up a black one for a spare (great sale price). They run $20-$25. And, just to be more contrary, I love the auto shut-off; thank god!!! for auto shut-off. Sunbeam's a. s-o isn't goofy; it stays on for about

15 minutes when untouched; most times I'm ironing, I'm using it much more often than that, so the shut-off isn't an issue. But, should I forget about the iron, nice to have it put itself to sleep.

Sunbeam's been around forever. Had one for 8 yrs before I dropped it; no telling how long it would have kept going. I figure it's good to get a new iron every few yrs, just for an "improved" possibility.

Good luck!

Ragmop/Sandy

Ragmop/Sandy,

Love you too as long as we can disagree on irons with or without water! :-)

My technicolor iron had an automatic shut-off and I didn't mind it at all. It heated up pretty fast and if I was ironing lots of fabric (which is usually how I iron fabric - in marathon sessions) it never had the chance to shut itself off.

I'll check out the Sunbeam irons.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

My next project is tote bags for two little great-granddaughters - one three yo & one 17 months old.

Donna in Idaho

I'm almost embarassed to admit it, but my best iron is a GE steam iron my mother gave me to take to college with me. That was in the fall of

1966, and it still works beautifully. For very small quick jobs I have a small, lightweight Black and Decker, and it works fine for those. After all the horror stories about the new and very expensive irons, I just count my lucky stars and am careful not to drop my good old GE!

Now that's a treasure. If I were you, I'd keep it in a safe deposit box. Please do not drop your iron. Polly

Yeah, but Polly - how's she going to use the iron if it's locked up in a safety deposit box?

D>Now that's a treasure. If I were you, I'd keep it in a safe deposit box.

I wish I had a couple of my old, old irons that dropped so many times & yet, they still worked. I replaced them when the knobs broke off. I think I have to put Rowenta in the same category as many of us put JoAnns - TIWLTH! Have never owned a Rowenta that didn't spit! Yes, I do put water in my irons. Recently, my current Rowenta spit on a block for my guild's opportunity quilt that I am working on & the spit landed on the red fabric, that RAN!!! Not sure how we are going to embellish that or add more applique:( I keep buying them, but I recently picked up a T-Fal or Shark, whichever Costco is carrying. I just bought it to take to my mini-group meetings, so haven't really given it a good test yet.

Seems to me that years back, people were picking up old irons at thrift shops & very happy with them.

Pauline Northern California